Stories of Great Hope
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KEY UPDATES AND MILESTONES<br />
WOMEN BUILD VOLUNTEERS HELPING BUILD AN AFFORDABLE HOME FOR A LOW-INCOME FAMILY IN MANITOBA LAST YEAR.<br />
ECHUM HASSIME OGUTA HAS BEEN ABLE TO INSTALL WINDOWS AND COMPLETE THE FIRST DECENT HOME<br />
HE’S EVER HAD WITH A MICROFINANCE LOAN FROM HABITAT FOR HUMANITY UGANDA’S MASINDI BRANCH.<br />
AT HOME<br />
From Victoria to Halifax, and to the<br />
bounds <strong>of</strong> the Arctic Circle, Habitat<br />
was busy in every province and territory<br />
last year, raising funds, building<br />
homes and transforming lives.<br />
In 2012, the keys to an additional<br />
220 homes were handed over to<br />
low-income families partnering with<br />
Habitat to improve their shelter conditions.<br />
Here are some key highlights<br />
on the work that make this possible:<br />
ABORIGINAL HOUSING PROGRAM<br />
The Aboriginal Housing Program<br />
seeks to better understand the distinct<br />
housing challenges faced by<br />
Aboriginal Canadians, while providing<br />
housing solutions for low-income families<br />
both on- and <strong>of</strong>f-reserve.<br />
Δ Since it was introduced in 2007, 50<br />
homes have been completed<br />
through the Aboriginal Housing<br />
Program, expanding affordable homeownership<br />
options for low-income<br />
Aboriginal families.<br />
Δ In September, Habitat for Humanity<br />
Yukon and the Champagne and<br />
Aishihik First Nations broke ground<br />
on the first Canadian Habitat<br />
project on First Nations settlement<br />
land. Once complete, this triplex<br />
development will provide affordable<br />
Habitat homeownership for three<br />
more First Nations families. (More<br />
about this build on page 12.)<br />
WOMEN BUILD<br />
Through Women Build, Habitat homes<br />
are built with a focus on promoting<br />
women as leaders in the trades.<br />
Δ There were 11 Women Build events<br />
held across Canada last year. Since<br />
2000, Women Build events have<br />
contributed to the construction<br />
<strong>of</strong> almost 90 affordable homes in<br />
eight provinces.<br />
RESTORE<br />
ReStores are home and building supply<br />
stores run by Habitat for Humanity<br />
affiliates that accept and resell quality<br />
new and used building supplies, home<br />
furnishings, appliances and decor.<br />
Shopping at a ReStore is a socially and<br />
environmentally-conscious decision,<br />
as funds generated support Habitat<br />
homebuilding, and because many <strong>of</strong><br />
the items donated would otherwise<br />
end up in landfill.<br />
Δ In 2012, Canadian ReStores diverted<br />
more than 25,000 tons <strong>of</strong> material<br />
from landfill.<br />
Δ 77 ReStores are now operated by<br />
60 Habitat for Humanity affiliates<br />
across Canada.<br />
HABITAT CONSULTED ON<br />
FEDERAL BUDGET<br />
Last year saw Habitat for Humanity<br />
Canada increase its presence in<br />
Ottawa. In the fall, federal Finance<br />
Minister Jim Flaherty sought advice<br />
from Habitat for Humanity<br />
Canada on what to include in renewed<br />
federal-provincial affordable<br />
housing agreements. In December,<br />
Habitat for Humanity Canada’s President<br />
& CEO was one <strong>of</strong> 64 business<br />
leaders to join Minister Flaherty for<br />
pre-budget roundtable consultations<br />
covering workable ideas on solidifying<br />
economic recovery and positioning<br />
Canada to compete and prosper over<br />
the long term.<br />
Habitat’s participation comes as all<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> government increasingly<br />
look towards affordable homeownership<br />
to be part <strong>of</strong> their approach<br />
to assisting families that lack a safe,<br />
decent and affordable home.<br />
ABROAD<br />
Inadequate housing is a global problem<br />
that requires a global solution.<br />
Habitat recognizes that we must address<br />
this issue internationally as well<br />
as domestically, and for this reason<br />
Habitat for Humanity Canada funds,<br />
leads, and provides volunteer support<br />
for housing and infrastructure projects<br />
in the developing world.<br />
GLOBAL VILLAGE CANADA<br />
Global Village Canada is an international<br />
volunteer program that sends<br />
Canadians around the globe to work<br />
hand in hand with families who lack<br />
adequate shelter.<br />
Δ Since Habitat for Humanity Canada’s<br />
first Global Village trip in 2005,<br />
Canadian volunteers have built more<br />
than 500 homes in 34 countries. As<br />
well, the program has generated<br />
more than $3 million for Habitat’s<br />
global mission.<br />
ENABLING NEIGHBOURHOOD<br />
REVIVAL IN HAITI<br />
In September 2012, Habitat for<br />
Humanity Canada wrapped up its first<br />
series <strong>of</strong> urban development projects<br />
in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.<br />
Focused on improving living<br />
conditions and providing access to<br />
critical services in the neighbourhood<br />
<strong>of</strong> Simon-Pelé, some projects<br />
outcomes included the repair <strong>of</strong> 175<br />
homes, installation <strong>of</strong> 100 sanitation<br />
facilities, as well as the training <strong>of</strong><br />
residents in financial literacy and<br />
reconstruction techniques.<br />
This project was undertaken with financial<br />
support from the Government<br />
<strong>of</strong> Canada, provided through the<br />
Canadian International Development<br />
Agency.<br />
TITHING<br />
Habitat for Humanity affiliates send<br />
(tithe) a portion <strong>of</strong> the donations<br />
they receive locally to the developing<br />
world in recognition <strong>of</strong> their commitment<br />
to alleviating substandard<br />
housing conditions abroad.<br />
Δ In 2012, Canadian Habitat for<br />
Humanity affiliates sent a total <strong>of</strong><br />
$358,069 through tithe donations<br />
to support the construction <strong>of</strong> safe,<br />
decent and affordable homes in<br />
Haiti, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador,<br />
Bolivia, Nepal and Uganda.<br />
INCREASING ACCESS TO HOUSING<br />
MICROFINANCE PRODUCTS<br />
Through a new partnership, Habitat for<br />
Humanity Canada, Habitat for Humanity<br />
International and The MasterCard Foundation<br />
will enable more than 17,000 additional<br />
households to access housing<br />
micr<strong>of</strong>inance products and services to<br />
improve their lives.<br />
Focusing on Ghana, Kenya and Uganda,<br />
the five-year project launched in<br />
October will work with up to nine local<br />
financial institutions already serving<br />
the poor to build their capacity and<br />
diversify products and services in order<br />
to meet shelter-related needs. In total,<br />
the project will provide $6.6 million<br />
to expand micr<strong>of</strong>inance services for<br />
the maintenance and improvement <strong>of</strong><br />
homes in these three African countries.<br />
A+ IN OVERALL<br />
CHARITY EFFICIENCY<br />
Habitat for Humanity Canada Foundation<br />
was named as one <strong>of</strong> 2012’s<br />
top 100 charities by MoneySense<br />
Magazine, earning an A+ for overall<br />
charity efficiency.<br />
Habitat homes are a hand up, not a<br />
hand out, as partner families pay back<br />
the full value <strong>of</strong> their home through a<br />
zero-interest mortgage. That means<br />
that a donation to Habitat actually<br />
helps many families over several generations,<br />
as funds used to build homes<br />
today will eventually be paid back to<br />
Habitat through affordable mortgage<br />
payments and then reinvested to build<br />
more homes.<br />
TRANSFORMING<br />
E-WASTE<br />
Working in partnership with the Ontario<br />
Electronic Stewardship program, several<br />
Ontario ReStores have begun accepting<br />
e-waste, providing eco-friendly<br />
and Habitat-friendly ways to recycle<br />
over 185 different household appliances<br />
and electronics. Recyclable items range<br />
from televisions and computers to hair<br />
driers and humidifiers, and all proceeds<br />
from the program are helping to expand<br />
access to affordable Habitat homeownership<br />
locally.<br />
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